Explosive



Patented June 1Q, 1924.

ERNEST L. SWIFT, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

EXPLOSIVE.

No Drawing. Application filed May 23,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST L. SWIFT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosives, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved carbonaceous absorbent for liquid oxygen, to be used in the manufacture of explosives.

The object of my invention is to provide a carbon, which is very porous, enabling it to readily absorb the liquid oxygen.

A further object of my invention is to provide a'porous carbon which is manufactured from waste oil gas carbon, a by-prodnot of gas works. Liquid oxygen explosives consist of cartridges formed of a carbonaceous material, saturated with liquid .oxygen. These cartridges are soaked in a vessel containing liquid oxygen, and are removed immediately before use and inserted into the drill hole, (if used for blasting). It is important, therefore, that the carbonaceous absorbent shall be able to hold a large proportion of liquid oxygen, so as to allow for the unavoidable evaporation; This. holding capacity is directly dependent upon the porosity of the carbon. bon now made is imported from Mexico or Germany.

My absorbent consists of a carbon which either by fuse or detonation.

The best car- 1923. Serial m.ie41,005.

is manufactured by the partial combustion of waste oil gas carbon as disclosed in my copending application, filed March 27, 1922,

Serial No. 547,004.

This carbon when examined under the microscope is a network of pores, which makes it particularly applicable for the present use. The cartridges are prepared as 40 follows:

A good grade of Kraft paper is formed into a tube about 1.1 inches in diameter and 12 inches long. These tubes are then filled with my carbon to the proper density, after which they are placed in the liquid oxygen for about six minutes. The cartridge is now ready to be removed from the liquid oyxgcn, placed in'the drill hole, and fired Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An explosive formed of a porous car bon, consisting of partially burned waste oil gas carbon, which has absorbed a quantity of liquid oxygen. 2. The method of forming an explosive cartridge which consists in forming a paper tube, filling said tube with a partially burned waste oil gas carbon, and immersing said cartridge in liquid oxygen.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ERNEST L. SWIFT. 

